In article <3jqq58$n8l at newsbf02.news.aol.com>, keithr5165 at aol.com
(KeithR5165) wrote:
> Can somebody explain to me what the caged compound application is?
> Thanks!
> Lauren
The caged compunds you are refering to are often inactive neurotransmitter
analogs
that generate an active neurotransmitter or an active neurotransmitter
analog after
absorption of light (photolysis).
This photolysis is a VERY rapid event, so one can go from effectively no
neurotransmitter
to say micromolar concentrations in only a few microseconds. This is sort
of like a rapid
concentration jump similar to what happens when neurotransmitters are
released from
nerve terminals. If you are interested in the rapid events that occur
after release of
neurotransmitter (ie. receptor activation) then you might want a "caged
neurotransmitter".
Hope that helps.
Stewart Abramson
--
Stewart N. Abramson
Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacology
University of Pittsburgh
sna at prophet.pharm.pitt.edu
